Lighting system for protecting circadian neuroendocrine function

ABSTRACT

Lighting systems, methods, and devices for protecting human circadian neuroendocrine function during night use are described. Suitable lighting conditions can be provided for a working environment while protecting the circadian neuroendocrine systems of those occupying the illuminated workplace during the night. Lighting systems, methods, and devices can provide substantive attenuation of the pathologic circadian disruption in night workers. Lighting systems, methods, and devices can attenuate the specific bands of light implicated in circadian disruption. LED lighting systems, methods, and devices can provide increased intensity at a different portion of the spectrum than conventional LEDs, providing a useable white light even when unfavorable portions of the wavelength are attenuated by a notch filter. LED lighting systems, methods, and devices can switch between a daytime configuration and a night time configuration, wherein the daytime configuration provides unfiltered light and the night time configuration provides filtered light.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was made with Government support under grant numberHL110769 awarded by the National Institute of Health. The Government hascertain rights in the invention.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Any and all priority claims identified in the Application Data Sheet, orany correction thereto, are hereby incorporated by reference under 37CFR 1.57.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to lighting systems, and in particular,light emitting diode (“LED”) lighting systems for protecting circadianneuroendocrine functions, particularly during night use.

Description of the Related Art

Approximately 25% of the workforce in North America is involved in workoutside the usual daytime hours. Previous work has shown that nightshift work, especially rotating shift work can have detrimental effectsboth in the short term and long term compared to day shift work. In theshort term there is an increased incidence of accidents and impaired jobperformance due to reduced alertness, while in the long term pathologieslinked to shiftwork include cardiovascular disease, metabolicderangements such as obesity, metabolic syndrome and Type II diabetesmellitus; gastrointestinal disease and several different types ofcancer, including breast, prostate and colorectal carcinoma, which ledthe World Health Organization in 2007 to declare shift work as a“probable carcinogen in humans”.

These adverse health effects are strongly connected to circadian rhythmdisruption due to bright light exposure at night. Circadian rhythms arethe approximately 24-hour pattern that is observed in a wide range ofphysiological functions including, but not limited to, sleep/wake cycle,neuroendocrine rhythms, feeding times, mood, alertness, cellproliferation and even gene expression in various tissue types. Theserhythms are regulated by an endogenous (internal) circadian timingsystem which is synchronized by exposure to daily cycles ofenvironmental (outdoor and indoor) light and darkness, detected byretinoganglion cells in the retina of the eye and transmitted via aretinohypothalmic neural pathway to the master circadian pacemaker(“biological clock”) located in the Suprachiasmatic Nuclei (SCN) of thehypothalamus. Exposure to bright light at night can desynchronize theSCN so its phase is altered, causing disruption of sleep-wake patternsand multiple key body neuroendocrine systems which may take days or evenweeks to recover leading to fatigue and malaise and poor health.

While some problems faced by shift workers are directly linked to acuteand chronic reduction in sleep quantity and quality, chronic circadiandisruption as a result of nocturnal light exposure appears to be a keyfactor in the pathogenesis of some of the medical consequences of shiftwork. Rodent studies demonstrate that chronic circadian disruptionaccompanied by little cumulative sleep loss produces acceleration ofmodels of cardiovascular disease, metabolic derangement, and cancer.Recent human laboratory studies have shown that even acute circadianmisalignment produces measurable metabolic disruption. Further, inepidemiological studies where both factors have been measured, disturbedsleep in shift work does not appear to account for the increase incardiovascular risk. Evidence also suggests that light exposure duringthe biological night results in inhibition of pineal melatoninsecretion, and chronic reduction in this oncostatic hormone over yearsof exposure to shift work may contribute to the increased risk ofcancer, particularly breast cancer, seen in women working the nightshift.

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is an important hormonesecreted by the pineal gland which is a key regulator of circadianfunctions synchronized by the SCN. Melatonin mediates many biologicalfunctions, particularly the timing of those physiological functions thatare controlled by the duration of light and darkness. Melatonin issynthesized from tryptophan through serotonin, which is N-acetylated bythe enzyme n-acetyl transferase or NAT, and then methylated byhydroxyindol-O-methyl transferase. The enzyme NAT is the rate-limitingenzyme for the synthesis of melatonin, and is increased bynorepinephrine at the sympathetic nerve endings in the pineal gland.Norepinephrine is released at night or in the dark phase from thesenerve endings. Thus, melatonin secretion is influenced strongly by thetiming of light and dark exposure.

Melatonin is secreted from the pineal gland with an endogenous circadianrhythm, peaking at night but its secretion is highly light sensitive.Nocturnal light exposure significantly suppresses melatonin secretion.The suppressive effect of light on melatonin varies with differingwavelengths due to the unique spectral sensitivity of melanopsinphotoreceptors in the retinal ganglion cells of the eye. Light exposureof relatively short wavelengths between 420 to 520 nm (with peaksensitivity between 440-470 nm) has the most pronounced suppressanteffect. Melatonin has been shown to have various functions such aschronobiotic regulation, immunomodulation, antioxidant effects,regulation of the timing of seasonal breeding and oncostatic effects.The oncostatic effects of melatonin have been shown in vitro, and inanimal studies showing that constant exposure to light significantlypromotes carcinogenesis due to melatonin suppression. Hence, melatoninsuppression by nocturnal bright light has been proposed as a keymediator of the adverse effects of rotating shift work.

Furthermore, light at night disrupts many other endocrine networks, mostnotably glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids are a class of steroid hormoneproduced in the cortex of the adrenal glands. Cortisol is the mostimportant human glucocorticoid and is associated with a variety ofcardiovascular, metabolic, immunologic, and homeostatic functions.Elevated levels of cortisol are associated with a stress response. Lightinduces gene expression in the adrenal gland via the SCN-sympatheticnervous system and this gene expression is associated with elevatedplasma and brain glucocorticoids. The amount of cortisol present in theserum generally undergoes diurnal variation, with the highest levelspresent in the early morning, and the lowest levels at night. Themagnitude of glucocorticoid release by light is also dose dependentlycorrelated with the light intensity. Light-induced clock-dependentsecretion of glucocorticoids may serve an adaptive function to adjustcellular metabolism to the light in a night environment, but alsoillustrates the presence of stress in response to nocturnal lighting.Elevated glucocorticoids pose numerous health risks includinghypertension, psychiatric disorders, insulin resistance and elevatedblood sugar levels, and suppression of the immune system. Increasedglucocorticoid levels have also been linked with faster proliferationrates of various carcinomas, most notably breast cancer. Elevated levelsof cortisol during pregnancy are further associated with metabolicsyndrome in offspring. Epidemiological studies in diverse populationshave demonstrated an association between low birth weight and thesubsequent development of hypertension, insulin resistance, Type 2diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. This association appears to beindependent of classical adult lifestyle risk factors. In explanation,it has been proposed that a stimulus or insult acting during criticalperiods of growth and development permanently alters tissue structureand function, a phenomenon termed “fetal programming”. Intriguingly,there is evidence that this phenomenon is not limited to thefirst-generation offspring and programming effects may persist insubsequent generations. Epidemiological studies in humans suggestintergenerational effects on birth weight, cardiovascular risk factors,and Type 2 diabetes. Similarly, transgenerational effects on birthweight, glucose tolerance, blood pressure, and thehypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis have been reported in animal models.One major hypothesis to explain fetal programming invokes overexposureof the fetus to glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids exert long-termorganizational effects and regulate organ development and maturation. Infact, glucocorticoids are exploited therapeutically in the perinatalperiod to alter the rate of maturation of organs such as the lung.Glucocorticoid treatment during pregnancy reduces birth weight inanimals and humans. Furthermore, cortisol levels are increased in humanfetuses with intrauterine growth retardation or in pregnanciescomplicated by preeclampsia, which may reflect a stress response in thefetus. It has been shown that rats exposed to dexamethasone (syntheticglucocorticoid) during the last third of pregnancy, are of low birthweight and develop hypertension and glucose intolerance in adulthood.

The chronobiotic properties of melatonin help to synchronize circadianrhythms in various body systems. In the absence of melatonin there canbe desynchronization of circadian rhythms because the phase or timing ofsome physiological processes do not align with external time cues. Suchan example is the markedly delayed time of sleep onset and offset inpatients with Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS), which does notcorrespond to habitual hours of sleep and activity. These individualsexhibit poor alertness and psychomotor performance when they are made toconform to conventional times of activity. Furthermore, such underlyingcircadian rhythm misalignment can often manifest itself as overtpsychological disorders ranging from subsyndromal depression to majordepression.

The presence of depression in DSPS populations has been previouslyreported. DSPS is characterized by sleep onset insomnia where thepatient may spend long hours before being able to fall asleep. It is aCircadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder, caused by a desynchronized centralbiological clock. It has been reported that DSPS patients showedemotional features such as low self-esteem, nervousness and lack ofcontrol of emotional expression. These characteristics may worsen socialwithdrawal, causing a loss of social cues in synchronizing theircircadian rhythm. Thus, the phase shift becomes more profound and avicious circle continues.

Apart from psychological disorders in individuals with circadian rhythmmisalignment, the presence of depression has also been noted in lowmelatonin secretors. Several studies undertaken in recent years haveshown that both the amplitude and rhythm of melatonin secretion isaltered in patients suffering from unipolar depression as well as inpatients suffering from bipolar affective disorders.

One approach taken in an attempt to improve conditions associated withdisruption of the usual light-dark cycle include entrainment of thecircadian rhythm to a delayed phase using bright light therapy in thehopes of increasing alertness at night and inducing sleep during morninghours. However, at the end of the night shift exposure to naturaloutdoor bright daylight serves as a potent circadian time cue(“Zeitgber”), overriding the potentially beneficial effects of brightlight interventions and negating circadian rhythm entrainment.Additionally, bright light administered at night disrupts the body'snatural circadian melatonin profile by preventing the melatoninsecretion at night. Substantial research evidence is emerging toimplicate potential long term consequences of shift-work associated riskfactors including increased risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease,gastrointestinal disorders and mood disorders and their associatedmorbidity and mortality. Recent studies implicate melatonin secretiondisruption with these risk factors.

Currently available efforts to address this problem fall well short ofthe goal of a practical, broadly applicable, and effective therapy. Forexample, pharmacologic treatments of sleepiness and daytime sleepdisturbance in shift workers are now available, but there are obviousconcerns about the widespread chronic utilization of these medicationsin the broad shift work population. Moreover, pharmacological treatmentsof sleep disturbance and sleepiness do not alter the underlying mismatchbetween the internal circadian timing system and the shift schedule.Recent animal and human data support a model in which the chronicmisalignment of behavior and internal timing is at least as important aschronic sleep deprivation in mediating the heightened prevalence ofmetabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer seen in shiftworkers. In theory, this shortcoming could be addressed by manipulationsof worker light-dark schedules. Such manipulations have been shown inlaboratory simulations to produce improved circadian alignment with thework schedule. However, enhanced workplace lighting is not broadlyapplicable to the entire array of shift work physical environments andshift work schedules. More limiting, these manipulations typicallydepend on worker compliance with schedule and light-dark exposurelimitations even on days off, and as a consequence have not foundwidespread acceptance.

There is a need for a simple, effective and inexpensive system to limitthe widespread and extensive adverse health effects of light exposure atnight, without unduly increasing fatigue or reducing alertness.

Thus, there exists a need for a means to improve shift worker alertnesswhile simultaneously limiting the underlying health consequences ofcircadian disruption which is broadly applicable to different shift worksettings and available to many shift workers, not just those withdiagnosable conditions.

SUMMARY OF THE APPLICATION

The systems, methods and devices described herein have innovativeaspects, no single one of which is indispensable or solely responsiblefor their desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of theclaims, some of the advantageous features will now be summarized.

Research suggests that light exposure during the night hours on a shiftwork schedule has significant adverse impact on the health of the shiftworker. The harmful effects of the light may be due to a small componentof the blue light fraction of the visual spectrum. The harmful effectsof shift work can be reduced by filtering out this component of thelight used to illuminate shift work settings. Filtering out the bluelight component results in normalization of the rhythms in hormonesecretion and increases in alertness and vigilance performance duringthe night work house.

Different LEDs, depending on their design and power source, can providevarying levels of intensity of light at different wavelengths. In someembodiments, white light is achieved most efficiently using LEDsemitting near-monochromatic blue light (typically in the 440-470 nmrange) that are grown on inexpensive sapphire or silicon carbidesubstrates. The blue LED chip emits a spike of blue near-monochromaticlight and the chip is then coated with a phosphor to generate thebroader spectrum of light wavelengths necessary to provide asufficiently white light illumination. Many high efficiency LED chipsused in lighting systems act as a pump which increases the intensity oflight at approximately 440-470, because of manufacturing limitationswhich makes other LED chips less efficient. Testing has shown that theintensity spike at around 440 nm in a conventional LED is highlysuppressive of melatonin. Testing has also shown that when a notchfilter is utilized to attenuate the specific band implicated incircadian disruption, a conventional LED may not offer white lightsimilar to that of unfiltered light. Under some circumstances aconventional LED with a notch filter, for example eliminating lightwavelengths below 500 nm, can give a yellow hue which may not beconducive to an efficient working environment in some applications.

In some embodiments, the LED lighting system incorporates violet LEDswhich incorporate a pump which increases the intensity of light atapproximately 415 nm as opposed to the conventional spike atapproximately 440 nm. Testing has shown that when a notch filter isutilized to attenuate the specific band implicated in circadiandisruption, the LEDs with the 415 nm pump unexpectedly produces lightsubstantially similar to unfiltered light. This improved filtered lightcan provide substantive attenuation of the pathologic circadiandisruption in night workers while providing a quality light source tokeep them alert, productive, and safe in the workplace. The improvedfilter light can offer increased alertness, increased vigilance,improved cognitive performance, and reduced accidents and injuries.

In some embodiments, the violet LEDs with a 415 nm pump can utilizeGallium Nitride on a matched Gallium Nitride substrate. In someembodiments, the violet light at 415 nm is used to excite phosphormaterial which results in a violet spike and a valley of blue, which cancreate a higher color rendition index and luminous efficacy.

Testing has confirmed that spectrum-specific LED lighting solutions arecapable of limiting circadian neuroendocrine disruption associated withnocturnal exposure to traditional lighting. In addition, the resultsshowed that filtered light sources can be effective regarding preservingnormal nocturnal melatonin patterns in humans while awake at night.According to one exemplary embodiment, the testing showed that lightingproduced by an approximately 415 nm violet pump LEDs with a 430-500 nmnotch filter is particularly suited to lighting for night shifts as itminimizes exposure to the spectral range responsible for disruption ofnocturnal melatonin patterns and provides suitable light for workingconditions. Narrower or different ranges of blocked wavelengths, such asthose discussed herein, can further enhance the spectrum of lightproduced while maintaining the desired melatonin effect and desiredconditions for particular environments when applied to a light sourcethat has sufficient light intensity at desired wavelengths.

Embodiments herein generally relate to lighting systems, methods, anddevices for protecting human circadian neuroendocrine function duringnight use. In some aspects, the systems, devices, and methods providesuitable lighting conditions for a working environment while protectingthe circadian neuroendocrine systems of those occupying the illuminatedworkplace during the night. In some aspects, LED lighting systems,methods, and devices are adapted to provide substantive attenuation ofthe pathologic circadian disruption in night workers. In some aspects,the LED lighting systems, methods, and devices are adapted to attenuatethe specific bands of light implicated in circadian disruption. In someaspects, the LED lighting systems, methods, and devices are adapted toprovide increased intensity at a different portion of the spectrum thanconventional LEDs, providing a useable white light even when unfavorableportions of the wavelength are attenuated by a notch filter. In someaspects, the LED lighting systems, methods, and devices are adapted toswitch between a daytime configuration and a night time configuration,wherein the daytime configuration provides unfiltered light and thenight time configuration provides filtered light.

One non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure includes an LEDlighting system comprising a plurality of LEDs and a notch filter,wherein the plurality of LEDs include a spike of intensity atapproximately 415 nm, and wherein the notch transmits less than 1% ofthe light between 430 nm and 500 nm.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure includes anLED lighting system comprising a plurality of LEDs and a notch filter,wherein the plurality of LEDs include a spike of intensity in theapproximate range of 380-430 nm, and wherein the notch transmits lessthan 1% of the light between one of the following ranges: between about420 nm and 500 nm; between about 425 nm and 500 nm; between about 430 nmand 500 nm; between about 440 nm and 500 nm; between about 450 nm and500 nm; between about 460 nm and 500 nm; between about 420 nm and 490nm; between about 430 nm and 490 nm; between about 440 nm and 490 nm;between about 450 nm and 490 nm; between about 460 nm and 490 nm;between about 420 nm and 480 nm; between about 430 nm and 480 nm;between about 440 nm and 480 nm; between about 450 nm and 480 nm;between about 460 nm and 480 nm; between about 420 nm and 470 nm;between about 430 nm and 470 nm; between about 440 nm and 470 nm;between about 450 nm and 470 nm; between about 420 nm and 460 nm; andbetween about 440 nm and 460 nm.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure can include aplurality of LEDs which include a spike of intensity in the approximaterange of 400-420 nm.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure can includeplurality of LEDs can include a spike of intensity at approximately 415nm.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure includes amethod of lighting workplace during the night comprising providing anLED light source, wherein the LED light source provides unfiltered lightduring the day, and wherein the LED light source provides filtered lightduring the night.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure relates tomethods of manufacturing the systems, devices, and components describedherein.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure relates tomethods of using the systems, devices, and components described herein.

Another non-limiting embodiment relates to a means for maintaining thecircadian rhythm of workers in a workplace during the night whileproviding adequate illumination for a safe and productive workingenvironment.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure relates tosystems and methods for an artificially illuminated environment systemadapted for one or more people to be situated therein. A definedenvironment space is provided. An artificial light source is adapted todeliver light within the defined environment space. The artificial lightsource is configured such that after taking into account any naturallight sources present that deliver light within the defined environmentspace of the artificially illuminated environment, and after taking intoaccount features of any environmental components present within thedefined environment space of the artificially illuminated environment,such as optics, spectral reflectivity of surfaces, and/or properties ofmaterials in the defined environment space that fluoresce, theartificial light source in combination with any contributing naturallight sources and/or environmental components delivers between aboutfifty (50) and about two thousand (2,000) lux of light in the visiblelight range (about 400 nm to about 700 nm) at between about two (2) andabout seven (7) feet above a floor level of the defined environmentspace. A Circadian Night Mode (CNight Mode) in which light is deliveredin a selected bioactive wavelength band range preferably does not exceedan average irradiance of about 1 μWatts/cm2 when measured in anydirection, wherein the selected bioactive wavelength band range spans atleast about 10 nm, and wherein the selected bioactive wavelength bandrange falls within a general wavelength band range of between about 430nm and about 500 nm. In some embodiments, the selected bioactivewavelength band range in the CNight Mode preferably does not exceed anaverage irradiance selected from a group consisting of: about 0.7μWatts/cm2, about 0.5 μWatts/cm2, about 0.2 μWatts/cm2, and about 0.1μWatts/cm2, when measured in any direction.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure relates tosystems and methods for a lighting system that comprises an artificiallight source. The artificial light source delivers light in the visiblelight range (about 400 nm to about 700 nm), and includes a CircadianNight Mode (CNight Mode) in which light delivered in a selectedbioactive wavelength band range delivers less than six percent (6%) ofthe total irradiance from the artificial light source in the visiblelight range. The selected bioactive wavelength band range can deliver anirradiance selected from a group consisting of: less than four percent(4%), less than two percent (2%), and less than one percent (1%), of thetotal irradiance from the artificial light source in the visible lightrange. The CNight Mode violet light is provided in a wavelength bandselected from a group consisting of: between about 400 and about 440 nm,between about 400 and about 435 nm, between about 400 and about 430 nm,between about 400 and about 425 nm, and between about 400 and about 415nm, and that has an average irradiance selected from a group consistingof: greater than about four percent (4%), greater than about six percent(6%), and greater than about ten percent (10%), of the total irradiancefrom the light source in the visible light range. The CNight Modepreferably alternates with a Circadian Day Mode (CDay Mode) wherein theselected bioactive wavelength band range delivers an irradiance selectedfrom a group consisting of: greater than about four percent (4%),greater than about six percent (6%), and greater than about ten percent(10%), of the total irradiance from the light source in the visiblelight range. The system can be configured to transition automaticallybetween the CDay Mode and the CNight Mode in response to predeterminedcircadian-phase or time of day instructions. The duration and timing ofCDay and the duration and timing of CNight can be preset by the user.The predetermined circadian-phase or time of day instructions may beselected from a group consisting of: instructions including seasonaladjusted times, instructions including fixed clock times, andinstructions including times chosen by a user.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure relates tosystems and methods for a lighting system that comprises a light source.The light source preferably is configured to emit light having aspectral distribution pattern with a violet spike between about 400 nmand about 430 nm, and in some embodiments, between about 400 nm andabout 440 nm. A notch filter can be adapted to be coupled to the lightsource. The notch filter can be configured to filter light emitted bythe light source such that a bioactive wavelength band delivers lessthan about six percent (6%) of the total irradiance from the lightsource in the visible light range in a first filtered configurationcorresponding to a CNight spectral distribution pattern. In someembodiments, a bioactive wavelength band can deliver an irradianceselected from a group consisting of: less than six percent (6%), lessthan four percent (4%), less than two percent (2%), and less than onepercent (1%), of the total irradiance from the light source in thevisible light range. A second non-filtered configuration corresponds toa CDay spectral distribution pattern. The bioactive wavelength band candeliver more than about four percent (4%) of the total irradiance fromthe light source in the visible light range in some embodiments.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure relates tosystems and methods having a light source that comprises a plurality ofdiscrete wavelength emitting LED chips. The plurality of LED chipstogether constitute a full visual light spectrum, in a CDay mode. Insome embodiments, one or more of the discrete wavelength emitting LEDchips is configured to be selectively switched off in a CNight mode suchthat a bioactive wavelength band delivers less than one percent (1%) ofthe total irradiance from the light source in the visible light range.In some embodiments, a bioactive wavelength band can deliver anirradiance selected from a group consisting of: less than six percent(6%), less than four percent (4%), less than two percent (2%), and lessthan one percent (1%), of the total irradiance from the light source inthe visible light range. One or more of the LED chips can bemonochromatic. In some embodiments, one or more of the LED chips arenear-monochromatic. The full visual light spectrum preferably comprisesdiscrete wavelength chips for Violet, Blue, Green, Yellow and Redwavelengths in some embodiments. A Blue LED chip is preferablyconfigured to be selectively switched off in the CNight mode.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure relates tosystems and methods for a light source that comprises first and secondseparately-controlled sets of violet LED chips. The first set of violetLED chips is configured to be switched on in a CDay mode and is coatedwith phosphors which absorb violet light and emit a visible lightspectrum across the 400-700 nm range. In some embodiments, the secondset of LED chips is configured to be switched on in a CNight mode and iscoated with a different phosphor or combinations of phosphors whichlimit light in a bioactive wavelength band so that the bioactivewavelength band delivers less than one percent (1%) of the totalirradiance from the light source in the visible light range. In someembodiments, a bioactive wavelength band can deliver an irradianceselected from a group consisting of: less than six percent (6%), lessthan four percent (4%), less than two percent (2%), and less than onepercent (1%), of the total irradiance from the light source in thevisible light range. The day-night pattern lighting can be achieved byswitching between the first and second sets of phosphor-coated LEDs. Insome embodiments, the coating materials used on the violet LED chips arenot conventional rare earth phosphors but have similar absorption andemission characteristics. The coating materials used on the violet LEDchips can include colloidal quantum dots and/or alkyl nanocrystals.

Another non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure relates tosystems and methods for a lighting system that comprises a light sourcecomprising a plurality of LED chips that emit light through first andsecond channels. In some embodiments, the first channel is coated with aphosphor or set of phosphors that during the CNight mode limits lighttransmission in a bioactive wavelength band so that the bioactivewavelength band delivers less than one percent (1%) of the totalirradiance from the light source in the visible light range. In someembodiments, a bioactive wavelength band can deliver an irradianceselected from a group consisting of: less than six percent (6%), lessthan four percent (4%), less than two percent (2%), and less than onepercent (1%), of the total irradiance from the light source in thevisible light range. The second channel is configured to be switched onduring the CDay mode and has no phosphor coating. The bioactivewavelength band in the CDay mode delivers more than 4% of the totalirradiance from the light source in the visible light range in someembodiments. The bioactive wavelength band in the CDay mode can deliveran irradiance selected from a group consisting of: greater than sixpercent (6%), and greater than 10 percent (10%), of the total irradiancefrom the light source in the visible light range.

Details of one or more implementations of the subject matter describedin this specification are set forth in the accompanying drawings and thedescription below. Other features, aspects, and advantages will becomeapparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. Note thatthe relative dimensions of the following figures may not be drawn toscale.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Throughout the drawings, reference numbers can be reused to indicategeneral correspondence between reference elements. The drawings areprovided to illustrate example embodiments described herein and are notintended to limit the scope of the disclosure.

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a lightingsystem including a PAR38 LED.

FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of on embodiment of a lightingsystem including a MR16 LED.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a LED light.

FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of a notch filter.

FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a workplace with a plurality ofceiling panels installed.

FIG. 5A illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment of a filter plate.

FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment of LED chip arrayswith movable filters.

FIG. 6A illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a LED lightingsystem including MR16 LEDs in an unfiltered position.

FIG. 6B illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a LED lightingsystem including MR16 LEDs in a filtered position.

FIG. 6C illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a LED lightingsystem including LED arrays in an unfiltered position.

FIG. 6D illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a LED lightingsystem including LED arrays in a filtered position.

FIG. 7A illustrates an LED lighting system including MR16 LEDs and acontrol system.

FIG. 7B illustrates an LED lighting system including LED chip arrays anda control system.

FIG. 8 illustrates the intensity of light across the visual spectrumproduced by an approximately 440 nm pump LED, both filtered andunfiltered.

FIG. 9 illustrates the relative intensity of light along the spectrumproduced by a several color temperature varieties of an approximately415 nm pump LEDs.

FIG. 10 illustrates the relative intensity of light along the spectrumproduced by a variety of an approximately 415 nm pump LED including a430-500 nm notch filter.

FIG. 11A represents the light transmittance percentage for a 455-490 nmnotch filter on a LED with a 440 nm pump.

FIG. 11B represents the light transmittance percentage for a sub 500 nmcut off filter on an LED with a 440 nm pump.

FIG. 11C represents the light transmittance percentage for a 430-500 nmnotch filter on a LED with a 415 nm pump.

FIG. 12A represents the spectrometer measurements for an approximately440 nm pump LED fitted with a 455-490 nm notch filter.

FIG. 12B represents the spectrometer measurements for an approximately440 nm pump LED fitted with a sub 500 nm cut off filter.

FIG. 12C represents the spectrometer measurements for an approximately415 nm pump LED without a filter.

FIG. 12D represents the spectrometer measurements for an approximately415 nm pump LED with a 430-500 nm notch filter.

FIG. 13A illustrates the melatonin levels for twelve subjects exposed to455-490 nm filtered and unfiltered light produced by an approximately440 nm pump LEDs.

FIG. 13B illustrates the melatonin levels for nine subjects exposed to455-490 nm filtered and unfiltered light produced by approximately 440nm pump LEDs.

FIG. 14 illustrates the melatonin levels for four subjects exposed tofiltered and unfiltered light produced by approximately 440 nm pumpLEDs.

FIG. 15 illustrates the melatonin levels for four subjects exposed tofiltered and unfiltered light produced by approximately 440 nm pump LEDsand filtered light produced by approximately 415 nm pump LEDs.

FIG. 16 illustrates the spectra of the unfiltered and filtered SoraaMR16 light source.

FIG. 17 illustrates percentages of total irradiance in a bioactive bandwith and without filtering and in the wavelengths of visible light notin the bioactive band.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part of the present disclosure. Theillustrative embodiments described in the detailed description,drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments maybe utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from thespirit or scope of the subject matter presented here. It will be readilyunderstood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generallydescribed herein, and illustrated in the Figures, can be arranged,substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of differentconfigurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and form partof this disclosure. For example, a system or device may be implementedor a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forthherein. In addition, such a system or device may be implemented or sucha method may be practiced using other structure, functionality, orstructure and functionality in addition to or other than one or more ofthe aspects set forth herein. Alterations and further modifications ofthe inventive features illustrated herein, and additional applicationsof the principles of the disclosure as illustrated herein, which wouldoccur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of thisdisclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the disclosure.

The advantages of the present disclosure may be accomplished by variousmeans. The following provides a definition for some of the terms used inthe specification:

“Circadian rhythm” is a broad term and is used herein in its ordinarysense, and, for example, generally refers to the cycle of approximately24 hours in the physiological processes of living organisms. Asdiscussed above, the master circadian pacemaker (biological clock) inmammals is located in the Suprachiasmatic Nuclei (SCN), a group of cellslocated in the hypothalamus. The SCN receives information aboutillumination through the eyes. The retina of each eye contains specialphotoresponsive retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) along with traditionalphotoresponsive rods and cones. These RGCs contain a photo pigmentcalled melanopsin, and information about the timing of environmentallight and dark falling on the eyes is transduced by the RCG melanopsinphotopigment and conveyed through a neural pathway called theretinohypothalamic tract, leading to the SCN.

Research in basic and human circadian physiology has characterized thisdistinct non-visual photosensory pathway (NVPP) to the endogenouscircadian clock and other brain regions. Several studies havedemonstrated that filtering short-wavelength (blue) light (<530 nm) frompolychromatic white light attenuated nocturnal light-induced suppressionof melatonin secretion. Recent work, has shown that filtering specific,bands of the blue light spectrum (<480 nm) that differentially affectthis system can normalize markers of circadian disruption includingmelatonin, cortisol and clock gene expression in rats exposed tonocturnal light. Similar treatments in human subjects, using eyewearwith low pass filters of light wavelengths <480 nm, produce equivalentpreservation of endocrine and clock-gene rhythms with improvements inmeasures of alertness and cognitive performance during simulated nightshifts, and this has recently been confirmed in field trials with thenurses and nuclear power plant control room operators on 12-hour nightshifts.

Circadian rhythms are found in cells in the body outside the SCN masterclock, in other words the expression of genes in various tissuesthroughout the body also follows a circadian rhythm pattern. In thecontext of the present disclosure, a “clock gene” is a broad term and isused herein in its ordinary sense, and, for example, generally refers toa gene that follows such an expression pattern and is responsible formaintaining circadian oscillations in a specific cellular physiology. Itis estimated that about 25% of the human genome shows such a periodicityin expression.

In the context of the present disclosure, a “bioactive band” or“bioactive wavelength band” is a broad term and is used herein in itsordinary sense, and, for example, generally refers to wavelengths of thevisible light spectrum within the range of about 430-500 nm orsubdivisions of the range which are described herein and where thisdisclosure describes the effects of reducing irradiance in thiswavelength band.

In the context of the present disclosure, “protecting circadianneuroendocrine function” of a subject is a broad term and is used hereinin its ordinary sense, and, for example, generally refers to maintainingthe amplitude, phase and periodicity of the circadian oscillationsobserved in physiological processes including, but not limited to,melatonin and cortisol secretion and clock gene expression that would bepresent in the subject exposed to the geophysical light/dark cycle.

“Normalizing levels” of the expression product of a clock gene is abroad term and is used herein in its ordinary sense, and, for example,generally refers to either increasing or decreasing the level ofexpression so as to more closely correspond to the levels of the productthat would be found in the same subject exposed to a regular geophysicallight/dark cycle. More particularly, with respect to melatonin, itrefers to maintaining at least 50% of the level in the same individualkept in darkness.

In the present disclosure, normalizing the levels of melatonin involvesincreasing the level of melatonin as compared to the level that wouldotherwise be present in a subject exposed to light at night. In thecontext of cortisol, it involves decreasing the level of cortisol ascompared to the level that would otherwise be present in a subjectexposed to light at night.

In reference to the present disclosure, the “subject” is a broad termand is used herein in its ordinary sense, and, for example, generally isa mammal, preferably a human. There may be particular advantagesconferred where the subject is a female human subject and even moreadvantages where the subject is pregnant.

“About” is a broad term and is used herein in its ordinary sense, and,for example, generally in the context of wavelength ranges refers to+/−5 nm. In the context of the present disclosure, a “filter” is a broadterm and is used herein in its ordinary sense, and, for example,generally is a device that substantially blocks a range ofnon-transmitted wavelengths of light.

“Retinal exposure” is a broad term and is used herein in its ordinarysense, and, for example, generally refers to light impingement upon theretina of a subject.

“Night” is a broad term and is used herein in its ordinary sense, and,for example, generally refers to the natural hours of darkness and, morespecifically, to the dark phase of the geophysical light/dark cycle. Insummer, in peri-equatorial latitudes, this is roughly equivalent toabout 2100 hrs (9 pm) to about 0600 hr (6 am), which are the peak hoursof melatonin production. “During the night” is a broad term and is usedherein in its ordinary sense, and, for example, generally refers to anytime during this period; preferably, the method of the presentdisclosure is practiced throughout the night.

“Circadian Night” is a broad term and is used herein in its ordinarysense, and, for example, generally refers to the nocturnal phase of anindividual's biological clock and circadian rhythms whether or not theindividual is synchronized to the environmental day/night cycle of lightand darkness.

“Circadian Day” is a broad term and is used herein in its ordinarysense, and, for example, generally refers to the daytime phase of anindividual's biological clock and circadian rhythms whether or not theindividual is synchronized to the environmental day/night cycle of lightand darkness.

In the context of the present disclosure, lighting systems or otherluminaires may be designed to provide certain characteristics during theCircadian Day and other characteristics during the Circadian Night totake account of the different responsiveness of biological systems tolight during the Circadian Day versus the Circadian Night.Alternatively, lighting systems may have certain characteristics duringthe Day and other characteristics during the Night to take account ofthe different responsiveness of biological systems to light during theDay versus the Night.

“Circadian Day Mode” (or “CDay Mode”) is a broad term and is used hereinin its ordinary sense, and, for example, generally refers to a lightingsystem or other luminaire that is configured to provide lighting withthe characteristic properties that are appropriate for the CircadianDay.

“Circadian Night Mode” (or “CNight Mode”) is a broad term and is usedherein in its ordinary sense, and, for example, generally refers to alighting system or other luminaire that is configured to providelighting with the characteristic properties that are appropriate for theCircadian Night.

“Pump” is a broad term and is used herein in its ordinary sense, and,for example, generally refers to a quality of the LED chip whichgenerates a high intensity spike of light within a defined range withinthe spectrum of light.

Research suggests that light exposure during the night hours on a shiftwork schedule has significant adverse impact on the health of the shiftworker. The harmful effects of the light may be due to a small componentof the blue light fraction of the visual spectrum. The harmful effectsof shift work can be reduced by filtering out this component of thelight used to illuminate shift work settings. Filtering out the bluelight component results in normalization of the rhythms in hormonesecretion and increases in alertness and vigilance performance duringthe night work house. U.S. Pat. No. 7,520,607 to Casper et al. and U.S.Pat. No. 7,748,845 to Casper et al. describe devices and methods forblocking retinal exposure to particular wavelengths of light and arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. Rahman et al.describes how spectral modulation attenuates the negative physiologicaleffects of unfiltered light exposure at night, Shadab A. Rahman, ShaiMarcu, Colin M. Shapiro, Theodore J. Brown, Robert F. Casper. Spectralmodulation attenuates molecular, endocrine, and neurobehavioraldisruption induced by nocturnal light exposure. Am J Physicol EndocrinalMetab 300: E518-E527, 2011 which is hereby incorporated by reference inits entirety. In addition, attached herewith are the materialsincorporated by reference herein and which form part of the presentdisclosure.

As described below, in some embodiments, a more effective approach isnow possible. Recent research has identified a distinct non-visualphotosensory pathway (NVPP) to the endogenous circadian clock and otherbrain regions. This system is anatomically and functionally distinctfrom the pathways mediating conscious vision. Specifically, the actionspectrum of the photoreceptors involved is different from that of therods and cones of vision. Filtering specific, narrow bands of the visuallight spectrum can normalize markers of circadian disruption includingmelatonin, cortisol, and clock gene expression in subjects exposed tonocturnal light. Eyewear with low pass filters filtering out wavelengthsless than 480 nm have produced equivalent preservation of endocrine andclock-gene rhythms with improvements in measures of alertness andcognitive performance during simulated night shifts. These results havealso been confirmed in field trials in nurses and nuclear power plantcontrol room operators on 12-hour night shifts. Beyond immediateimprovements in alertness and performance, the preservation of normalcircadian organization, including normal melatonin secretion, shouldtranslate into meaningful attenuation of health risks associated withchronic circadian disruption in night shift work.

Embodiments described herein generally relate to systems, devices, andmethods related to lighting systems. More specifically, some embodimentsrelate to spectrum-specific, indoor LED lighting systems that provideusable indoor illumination absent the spectral components that areassociated with circadian disruption. In some other embodiments lightingsystems other than LED lighting systems can also be used. For example,lighting sources that can provide the desired light intensity inparticular wavelength ranges can be used in some embodiments. In someembodiments, the LED lighting systems can be used at night withoutproducing significant circadian disruption, providing immediateimprovements in alertness and performance and the potential forlong-term improvements in shift worker health, and can have significantpotential application in the large and growing segment of the moderneconomy that requires night work.

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a lightingsystem 100 including a PAR38 LED. FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective viewof on embodiment of a lighting system 100 including a MR16 LED. FIG. 2illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a LED light 110.FIG. 3 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of a notch filter 120.In some embodiments, the LED lighting system 100 can include a LED light110 and a notch filter 120 to remove the harmful portion of the lightspectrum. In some embodiments the LED light 110 can include a PAR38 LED.In some embodiments the LED light 110 can include an MR16 LED. In someembodiments, the LED light 110 can include an LED array. In someembodiments, the LED light 110 can include other types of LED's known tothose in the art. The LED light 110 can include a housing 112 and aplurality of LEDs 114. The housing 112 can orient the LEDs 114 in thepreferred configuration and connect the LEDs 114 to a power source. Insome embodiments, the housing 112 can also couple the notch filter 120to the LED light 110. In some embodiments, the LED lighting system 100can substantially block the specific band implicated in circadiandisruption, which may include, for example, approximately 460-480 nm,but still provide functional near-white illumination. The LED lightingsystem 100 can provide substantive attenuation of the pathologiccircadian disruption in night workers, regardless of workplaceenvironment and work schedule. Those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the embodiments described herein could use other light sourcesinstead of LEDs, which may include, for example, halogen or fluorescentlight. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 1A, the LED light 110can be a Par38 LED. In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, theLED light 110 can be a MR16 LED.

In some embodiments, the LED lighting system 100 includes spectroscopicnotch filters 120. In some embodiments, the notch filter 120 attenuatesa filtered range of transmission to less than 40% of total spectralpower. In some embodiments, the notch filter 120 attenuates a filteredrange of transmission to less than 40% of total spectral power. In someembodiments, the notch filter 120 attenuates a filtered range oftransmission to less than 30% of total spectral power. In someembodiments, the notch filter 120 attenuates a filtered range oftransmission to less than 20% of total spectral power. In someembodiments, the notch filter 120 attenuates a filtered range oftransmission to less than 10% of total spectral power. In someembodiments, the notch filter 120 attenuates a filtered range oftransmission to less than 5% of total spectral power. In someembodiments, the notch filter 120 attenuates a filtered range oftransmission to less than 1% of total spectral power. In someembodiments, the notch filter 120 attenuates a filtered range oftransmission to less than 0.1% of total spectral power. In someembodiments, the notch filter 120 attenuates a filtered range oftransmission which may incorporate a portion of one or several of theranges described above.

In some embodiments the filtered range of transmission can include acutoff of any light below one of the following wavelengths: 420 nm, 430nm, 440 nm, 450 nm, 460 nm, 470 nm, 480 nm, 490 nm, 500 nm, 510 nm, 520nm. In some embodiments, the filtered range of transmission can includeany one of the following ranges: between about 420 nm and 490 nm;between about 430 nm and 490 nm; between about 440 nm and 490 nm;between about 450 nm and 490 nm; between about 460 nm and 490 nm;between about 420 nm and 480 nm; between about 430 nm and 480 nm;between about 440 nm and 480 nm; between about 450 nm and 480 nm;between about 460 nm and 480 nm; between about 420 nm and 470 nm;between about 430 nm and 470 nm; between about 440 nm and 470 nm;between about 450 nm and 470 nm; between about 420 nm and 460 nm; andbetween about 440 nm and 460 nm. In some embodiments, the filtered rangeof transmission can be between 460-480 nm. In some embodiments, thefiltered range of transmission can be between 430-490 nm. In otherembodiments, the filtered range of transmission can include other rangesbased on desired lighting conditions. In some embodiments, the notchfilter 120 can create sharp transitions on either side of the absorptionnotch and high optical density inside the notch. The accuracy of thenotch filter 120 allows the LED lighting system 100 to substantiallyblock the small band of light with negative implications while producingillumination which is substantially similar to that of current lightingsystems.

Different LEDs, depending on their design and power source, can providevarying levels of intensity of light at different wavelengths.Conventional LEDs incorporate a pump which increases the intensity oflight at a LED in the approximate range of 440 nm and 470 nm. Testinghas shown that the intensity spike at around 440 nm in a conventionalLED is highly suppressive of melatonin. Testing has also shown that whena notch filter is utilized to attenuate the specific band implicated incircadian disruption, a conventional LED may not offer white lightsimilar to that of unfiltered light. Under some circumstances aconventional LED with a notch filter will give a yellow hue which maynot be conducive to an efficient working environment in someapplications. In some embodiments, the LED lighting system incorporatesLEDs 114 which incorporates a pump which increases the intensity oflight in the approximate range of 400-420 nm as opposed to theconventional spike in the approximate range of 440 nm and 470 nm. Insome embodiments, the LED lighting system incorporates LEDs 114 whichincorporate a pump which increases the intensity of light in theapproximate range of 380 and 430 nm as opposed to the conventional spikein the approximate range of wavelength between approximately 440 nm and470 nm. In some embodiments, the LED lighting system incorporates LEDs114 which incorporate a pump which increases the intensity of light atapproximately 415 nm. Testing has shown that when a notch filter isutilized to attenuate the specific band implicated in circadiandisruption, the LEDs with the 415 nm pump unexpectedly produces lightsubstantially similar to unfiltered light. This improved filtered lightcan provide substantive attenuation of the pathologic circadiandisruption in night workers while providing a quality light source tokeep them alert, productive, and safe in the workplace. The improvedfilter light can offer increased alertness, increased vigilance,improved cognitive performance, and reduced accidents and injuries.

LEDs are a special type of diode which passes electric current in onedirection only. LEDs convert the energy dissipated by the currentpassing through the diode into light. The color of light emitted isdetermined by the type of semiconductor material that is used in theactive region of the device, and by the thickness of the individuallayers within the active region. In some embodiments, LEDs use GalliumNitride (“GaN”) to produce a white light. The forward voltage drop(measured in volts) and the current through the diode, (measured in ampsor miliamps) measure the wattage of the diode. In some embodiments,these are regulated by a drive, an electronic circuit between the LEDand main power that maintains stable voltage and current in order toprevent the LED from fluctuating or burning up.

In one embodiment, high-intensity white light is produced usingindividual LEDs that emit three primary colors, red, green, and blue(“RGB”), and then mix all the colors to form white light. In otherembodiments, high-intensity white light is produced by coating a GaN LEDwith a phosphor material to convert the typically blue monochromatic GaNemitted light into broad-spectrum white light. In some embodiments, GaNphosphor white offers much better color rendering that RGB white, oftenon a par with florescent sources. GaN phosphor white light can also bemuch more efficient than RGB white.

In some embodiments, GaN LEDs can be designed to emit any color in therange of UV-A (380 nm) to green (550 nm) by alloying the Gallium Nitridewith Aluminum and/or Indium. In some embodiments, “white” LEDs use a GaNLED emitting blue light in the 440 nm-470 nm range which is covered by ayellowish phosphor coating which distributes the light wavelengths inthe broad color spectrum necessary to provide white light. In someembodiments, a method of making a GaN LED includes crystal layers of GaNgrown on a substrate material, which may include for example sapphire orsilicon carbide. Due to differences in material properties between GaNand the substrate materials, the GaN crystal can grow imperfectly on thesubstrates and can produce a high incidence of imperfections whichreduce the light generation efficiency of the LED. This loss ofefficiency can be referred to as “droop” when the LEDs are driven withincreasing electric current. Conventional approaches to high efficiencyhigh intensity light production by LEDs tends to focus on GaN based LEDsemitting a spike of blue light in the 440-470 nm range.

In some embodiments, the light spectrum of these commonly available LEDsfalls in the visual spectrum range that causes maximum stimulation ofthe melanopsin retinal ganglion cell receptors and the non-visualpathways controlling the circadian timing system and pineal. Duringnight-time hours these LED based luminaires can cause suppression ofmelatonin with its attendant neuroendocrine and health disruptiveeffects.

In some embodiments, LED lighting systems can include optical filtersthat exclude light wavelengths between 425 and 490 (or variants of thise.g. 430-480 etc. to be iteratively determined) and light sources thatemit a high intensity light spike in the violet wavelengths between 400and 420 nm, because the combination of these wavelengths (400-420 plus500-750 nm) do not trigger the melanopsin system at night.

In some embodiments, LED lighting systems can include a light sourcethat emits a high intensity light spike in the 400-420 nm range tocompensate for the yellow color distortion produce by a filter excludinglight in the 425-490 blue wavelengths. In some embodiments, LED lightingsystems can include a light source that emits a high intensity lightspike in the 380-430 nm violet range to compensate for the yellow colordistortion produce by a filter excluding light in the 430-490 nm bluewavelengths. In some embodiments, the light source can be LED-based asthat is the most efficient and lowest cost solution at this time,however other light sources could be utilized which offer a similar highintensity light spike. In some embodiments, the light source can includeGaN LEDs.

In some embodiments, LED lighting systems can include LEDs with a lightintensity spike in the 400-420 nm range can combine a LED chip emittinglight at 405 nm with a coating of phosphors. In some embodiments, LEDlighting systems can include LEDs with a high efficiency GaN LED with alight intensity spike in the 400-420 nm range by growing the chip on amuch more expensive GaN substrate as compared of the sapphire substrateswhich are used for conventional LED chips which can offer reduced defectdensities reducing droop and allowing very high current densities toachieve high intensity light output. By growing the GaN crystals on aGaN substrate, the crystals can grow more perfectly, and thusaccommodate much higher power densities and allow the LED to emit morelight from the same crystal area.

In some embodiments, the LED lighting system 100 can include means forswitching between a night configuration and a day configuration. In someembodiments the LED lighting system 100 can include a plurality of LEDlights 110 which incorporate a notch filter 120 as illustrated in FIG.1A and FIG. 1B and a plurality of LED lights 110 which do notincorporate a filter as illustrated in FIG. 2. In some embodiments, theLED lighting system 100 can switch from the plurality of LED lights 110with notch filters 120 during the night to the plurality of LED lights110 without notch filters during the day. In another embodiment, the LEDlighting system 100 can be installed in conjunction with an existinglight system, allowing the system to switch between the existingunfiltered light source during the day to the filtered LED lightingsystem 100 during the night. The ability of the LED lighting system 100to switch back and forth between filtered light and unfiltered light isideal for facilities which share day shift workers and night shiftworkers as it can provide full spectrum light during daytime hours andfiltered healthy light at night. In some embodiments, the LED lightingsystem 100 can incorporate the capability of software and controlsystems to provide intelligent and personalized dynamic control of thecircadian timing of light. In some embodiments, the LED lighting system100 can incorporate a simple timer to switch between filtered light andunfiltered light.

In another embodiment, the LED lighting system can include a means forapplying the notch filter 120 to the plurality of LED lights 110selectively, so that the plurality of LED lights 110 are only subject tothe notch filter 120 during the night. In some embodiments, theselective application of the notch filter 120 can include a means formoving the notch filter 120 into or out of the beam of light produced bythe LED lights 110. In another embodiment, the selective application ofthe notch filter 120 can include a means for activating or deactivatingthe filter properties of the notch filter 120 so that in an deactivatedstate, the notch filter 120 allows a full spectrum of light through thenotch filter 120 but in an activated state, the notch filter 120prevents at least a majority of a prescribed filtered range of lightfrom passing through the notch filter 120. In one embodiment, in anactivated state, the notch filter 120 can allow less than 1% of lightwithin the prescribed filtered range from passing through the notchfilter 120.

In some embodiments, an LED lighting system 100 incorporates a ceilingpanel incorporating a plurality of LED lights 110. In some embodiments,the LED lighting system 100 is constructed for installation intostandard lighting fixtures or existing receptacles for conventionalpanel lighting in industrial and commercial workplaces, minimizing thecost involved with converting existing workplaces and installing an LEDlighting system 100. FIG. 4 illustrates one example of a workplace 400with a plurality of ceiling panels 410 installed. In some embodiments,the ceiling panel 410 can be approximately 24″ long by 24″ wide. In someembodiments, the ceiling panel 410 can be approximately 48″ long by 24″wide. In some embodiments, the ceiling panel 410 can be 48″×12″ wide. Insome embodiments, other sizes of ceiling panel 410 are possible. In someembodiments, the ceiling panel 410 can include 4 to 24 LED lights 110.In some embodiments, the ceiling panel 410 can include 12 LED lights110. In some embodiments the operating voltage of the LED lightingsystem 100 can be approximately 90 to 277 Volts AC at approximately50/60 Hertz. In some embodiments, the ceiling panel 410 can beconstructed of steel or aluminum. In some embodiments the LED lights 110can comprise MR16 bulbs, such as, for example, those commerciallyavailable from Soraa, Inc. of Fremont, Calif. In other embodiments, theLED lights 110 can include an LED chip array. In other embodiments, theLED lights 110 can include an LED chip array including GaN on GaN chipssuch as, for example, those commercially available from Soraa, Inc. ofFremont, Calif. In some embodiments, the LED lighting system can includea gateway 450 or controller.

FIG. 5A illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment of a filter plate.FIG. 5B illustrates a bottom view of one embodiment of LED chip arrayswith movable filters. In some embodiments, the LED lighting system 100can include a filter plate 500 capable of selectively filtering thelight produced by the LED lighting system 100. In some embodiments, thefilter plate 500 incorporates at least one filtered portion 502 and atleast one unfiltered portion 504. In some embodiments, the filteredportion 502 can include a plurality of apertures which include a filter,which may include for example any of the filters described herein. Insome embodiments, the unfiltered portion 503 can include a plurality ofapertures which do not include a filter. In some embodiments, the filterplate 500 can include a plurality of filtered portions 502 andunfiltered portions 504. In some embodiments, filtered portions 502 andunfiltered portions 504 are oriented on the filter plate 500 such thatmovement of the plate changes the portion of the plate through whichlight passes through, which may include light produced by one of the LEDlights described herein. The light can pass through either the filteredportions 502 of the filter plate 500 or through the unfiltered portions504 of the filter plate 500. In some embodiments, the filter plate 500is constructed to slide so that light may be directed through theunfiltered portions 504 during the day and through the filtered portions502 during the night.

FIG. 6A illustrates a side view of one embodiment of a LED lightingsystem including MR16 LEDs in an unfiltered position. FIG. 6Billustrates a side view of one embodiment of a LED lighting systemincluding MR16 LEDs in a filtered position. FIG. 6C illustrates a sideview of one embodiment of a LED lighting system including LED arrays inan unfiltered position. FIG. 6D illustrates a side view of oneembodiment of a LED lighting system including LED arrays in a filteredposition. In some embodiments, the filters may be housed in a filterplate 500 as described above. In some embodiments, the filters may moveside to side individually or in rows. In some embodiments, asillustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6C, the LED lighting system can be in adaytime configuration where the filters are not in the path of the lightand do not attenuate any of the light. In some embodiments, asillustrated in FIGS. 6B and 6D, the LED lighting system can be in anight time configuration where the filters are in the path of the lightand attenuate at least a portion of the light passing through them. Insome embodiments, in a night time configuration, the LED lighting systemwould not allow a substantial amount of unfiltered light to pass intothe workplace 400. In some embodiments, the filter plate incorporatingthe filtered portions 502 and the unfiltered portions 504 can movelaterally in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lightproduced by the LED lighting system. In another embodiment, the filterscould rotate between a filtered night time configuration and anunfiltered day time configuration. In some embodiments, movement of thefilter plate or the filters is controlled by a servo. One skilled in theart will realize that light sources other than MR16 LEDs or LED arrayscan be used with a moveable filter or filter plate.

FIG. 7A illustrates an LED lighting system including MR16 LEDs and acontrol system. FIG. 7B illustrates an LED lighting system including LEDchip arrays and a control system. In some embodiments the LED lightingsystem can include a control system. In some embodiments the LEDlighting system can include a terminal block, a power supply, inputcircuitry, a micro controller, an ambient temperature sensor, a servodrive, a servo, and actuator limit switches. In some embodiments thecontrol system, based on any number of inputs which may include the timeof day, can control whether the LED lighting system is in an unfilteredday time configuration or in a filtered night time configuration. Insome embodiment, the control system can activate a servo to change theLED lighting system from an unfiltered day time configuration or in afiltered night time configuration. In some embodiments, the LED lightingsystem can include actuator limit switches so that the control systemknows when the LED lighting system has reached the proper orientation tobe in a filtered or an unfiltered state, and can use that data to ensurethe LED lighting system is in the proper configuration. In someembodiments, an electrical actuator can be used for filter positioning.

In some embodiments, the LED lighting system can be remote controlledfrom an in-room gateway 450 as illustrated in FIG. 4 through power-linecommunications. In some embodiments, control of the LED lighting systemcan use X-10 or Insteon standards. In some embodiments, the controlsystem can control both the brightness of the LED lighting system aswell as the filtered or unfiltered configuration of the LED lightingsystem. In some embodiments, the control system can ensure that all ofthe LED lights in the LED lighting system are adjusted substantially inunison and in substantially the same sequence.

Testing and Validation

As mentioned above, testing has shown that the intensity spike at around440 nm in a conventional LED is highly suppressive of melatonin. Testinghas also shown that when a notch filter is utilized to attenuate thespecific band implicated in circadian disruption, a conventional LED maynot offer white light similar to that of unfiltered light. Two types ofLED lights were utilized in testing, one including a 440 nm pump and oneincluding a 415 nm pump.

FIG. 8 illustrates the intensity of light across the visual spectrumproduced by an approximately 440 nm pump LED, both filtered andunfiltered. The filtered spectrum includes a filtered range between455-490 nm. Testing has shown that the 455-490 nm notch filter incombination with the 440 nm pump LED is ineffective at restoringmelatonin to desired levels. Further testing showed that a cut-offfilter below 500 nm on a 440 nm pump LED is effective at restoringmelatonin to desired levels, however the resulting filtered light wasunacceptable for some applications as it offered a yellow hue versus thedesired white light. In some other applications, a cut-off filter and/orlight with a yellow hue may provide an acceptable environment offiltered light if desired.

FIG. 9 illustrates the relative intensity of light along the spectrumproduced by a several color temperature varieties of an approximately415 nm pump LEDs. FIG. 10 illustrates the relative intensity of lightalong the spectrum produced by a variety of an approximately 415 nm pumpLED including a 430-500 nm notch filter. Testing has shown that the430-500 nm notch filter in combination with the 415 nm pump LED iseffective at restoring melatonin to desired levels as well as creatingthe desired white light.

Several custom filters were manufactured for the testing process. FIG.11A represents the light transmittance percentage for a 455-490 nm notchfilter on a LED with a 440 nm pump. FIG. 11B represents the lighttransmittance percentage for a sub 500 nm cut off filter on an LED witha 440 nm pump. FIG. 11C represents the light transmittance percentagefor a 430-500 nm notch filter on a LED with a 415 nm pump. The shadedarea in FIGS. 11A-C represents the wavelength range for which less than1% transmittance was designed, and all three filters fulfilled thedesigned less than 1% transmittance requirement.

Several prototype LED lighting systems were produced for the testingprocess utilizing the custom filters described above. FIG. 12Arepresents the spectrometer measurements for an approximately 440 nmpump LED fitted with a 455-490 nm notch filter. FIG. 12B represents thespectrometer measurements for an approximately 440 nm pump LED fittedwith a sub 500 nm cut off filter. FIG. 12C represents the spectrometermeasurements for an approximately 415 nm pump LED without a filter. FIG.12D represents the spectrometer measurements for an approximately 415 nmpump LED with a 430-500 nm notch filter.

Twelve healthy individuals were enrolled in an overnight study. Thegroup included five females and seven males. Ages ranged from 22-34years of age, with the mean age being 26.5 years. Exclusion criteriaincluded recent history of shiftwork, sleep disorders, ocular/visiondisorders, color blindness, a score greater than 16 on the Centre forEpidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, suggestions of depression, beingon medication, smoking, irregular habitual sleep pattern with bedtimesand wake-up times deviating by 2+ hours from 2300 and 0700,respectively. All female participants were on oral contraceptives toprevent hormonal variability that could affect melatonin secretion. Aspart of the screening process, subjects provided saliva samples formelatonin analysis which they collected at home at the midpoint of theirnocturnal sleep while in a dim/dark room. This sampling time coincideswith the time when melatonin typically peaks, and only participants whohad medium/high melatonin levels were enrolled for the overnight studies(low secretors did not qualify for the study as no strong differences inmelatonin production between different lighting conditions wereexpected). Prior to the test nights, subjects participated in trainingsessions to practice the performance tests. They were asked to keeptheir regular sleep schedule during the week prior to each test nightwith bedtimes and wake-up times not deviating by more than 1 hour from2300 and 0700, respectively (verified by sleep diaries and activitymonitor recordings).

The study design was a within-subject design allowing direct individualcomparisons with subsets of the participant group for added pilotstudies with modified light filters testing. All twelve subjectscompleted testing of the light from 440 nm pump LEDs without a filter aswell as light from the 440 nm pump LEDs with a 455-490 nm notch filter.Groups of four subjects participated in additional pilot testing withlight from 440 nm pump LEDs with a sub 500 nm cut off filter and lightfrom the 415 nm pump LEDs with a 430-500 nm notch filter.

The overnight protocol included hourly saliva sampling from 2000 to0800. Double samples of saliva were analyzed for melatonin. Every twohours the following tests were performed: neuropsychometric subjectivetests on mood using the visual analog scale, sleepiness using theStanford Sleepiness Scale, fatigue using the Samn-Perelli Scale,alertness using the Toronto Hospital Alertness Test, and a 2-mincognitive performance test. Every four hours vigilance was measuredobjectively using the Digit Vigilance Test. Subjects completed alighting assessment survey at midnight and at the end of each testnight. Subjects were studied in groups of four, and were playing boardgames between test sessions. No sleep was allowed. Isocaloric snackswere served every four hours after saliva sampling, and subjects rinsedtheir mouth after eating. No food or water was allowed during 25 minprior to saliva sampling.

The different lighting conditions were provided in form of ceilinglighting. Light intensity at the angle of gaze was about 300-400 lux.After arrival at the laboratory at 18:15, subjects were exposed tostandard fluorescent office ceiling lighting until they had completedthe first test session at approximately 2000.

FIGS. 13-15 illustrate average melatonin levels in subjects over timewhen subjected to various LED and filter combinations. FIG. 13Aillustrates the melatonin levels for twelve subjects exposed to 455-490nm filtered and unfiltered light produced by an approximately 440 nmpump LEDs. The A line represents the average melatonin levels insubjects overnight when exposed to light from 440 nm pump LEDs without afilter. The B line represents the average melatonin levels in subjectsovernight when exposed to light from 440 nm pump LEDs with a 455-490 nmnotch filter. Statistically significant differences between the twolighting conditions were found for the early morning hours, however themagnitude of the melatonin difference was relatively small. Lowmelatonin levels are typically expected when exposed to unfiltered lightat night, and this was seen in most subjects. Subjects with increasedbaseline melatonin levels with the unfiltered light condition, whichcould be due to their individual-specific different reactions to thespecific spectral composition of LED lighting, and one subject with poorsaliva production ability, which led to exceedingly high melatoninbaseline levels due to extremely long sampling times necessary toachieve the required saliva volume, were excluded from the subsequentmelatonin analysis illustrated by FIG. 13B. FIG. 13B illustrates themelatonin levels for nine subjects exposed to 455-490 nm filtered andunfiltered light produced by approximately 440 nm pump LEDs. FIG. 13Bexcludes the outliers of FIG. 13A as described above. As in FIG. 13A,the A line represents the average melatonin levels in subjects overnightwhen exposed to light from 440 nm pump LEDs without a filter. The B linerepresents the average melatonin levels in subjects overnight whenexposed to light from 440 nm pump LEDs with a 455-490 nm notch filter.

Four of the remaining subjects participated additional pilot testing asillustrated in FIG. 14 which included an additional 440 nm LED lightsource with a sub 500 nm cut off filter and three of them were able toparticipate in a fourth overnight study as illustrated in FIG. 15 whichincluded 415 nm LED light with a 430-500 nm notch filter. FIG. 14illustrates the melatonin levels for four subjects exposed to filteredand unfiltered light produced by approximately 440 nm pump LEDs. The Aline represents the average melatonin levels in subjects overnight whenexposed to light from 440 nm pump LEDs without a filter. The B linerepresents the average melatonin levels in subjects overnight whenexposed to light from 440 nm pump LEDs with a 455-490 nm notch filter.The C line represents the average melatonin levels in subjects overnightwhen exposed to light from 440 nm pump LEDs with a sub 500 nm cut offfilter.

FIG. 15 illustrates the melatonin levels for four subjects exposed tofiltered and unfiltered light produced by approximately 440 nm pump LEDsand filtered light produced by approximately 415 nm pump LEDs. The Aline represents the average melatonin levels in subjects overnight whenexposed to light from 440 nm pump LEDs without a filter. The B linerepresents the average melatonin levels in subjects overnight whenexposed to light from 440 nm pump LEDs with a 455-490 nm notch filter.The C line represents the average melatonin levels in subjects overnightwhen exposed to light from 440 nm pump LEDs with a sub 500 nm cut offfilter. The D line represents the average melatonin levels in subjectsovernight when exposed to light from 415 nm pump LEDs with a 430-500 nmnotch filter. The data illustrates that melatonin levels for the 440 nmpump LEDs with 455-490 nm notch Filter (Line B) are quite similar to themelatonin levels for the unfiltered 440 nm pump LEDs (Line D), a controlvalue representing a full spectrum of light in conventional workplaces.which represents a control full spectrum of light. This shows that theconventional LED with increased intensity at approximately 440 nm alongwith the 455-490 nm notch filter is not effective at maintainingappropriate melatonin levels of the subjects during night time exposure.On the other hand, Line C, representing the 440 nm pump LEDs with a sub500 nm cut off filter, and Line D, representing the 415 nm pump LEDswith a 430-500 nm notch filter, maintain desired levels of melatoninduring night time exposure. The pilot testing clearly demonstrated thatnocturnal light-induced melatonin suppression can be limited byspectrum-specific, filtered LED lighting, specifically by lightingproduced by 415 nm pump LEDs with a 430-500 nm notch filter.

The testing also included subjective assessments of each light source toidentify potential barriers to adoption. Subjects completed a lightassessment survey in the middle and at the end of each night. VisualAnalog Scales were used to assess: general illumination, brightness andlight distribution in the room, light color, glare, subject's ability toclearly see details, subject's ability to clearly perceive contrasts andcolors, the pleasantness of the light, the physical appearance of thelighting fixture and how comfortable the lighting was on the eyes. Thesubjects' assessment of the filtered lighting produced by the 440 nmpump LED light with the 455-490 nm notch filter was on average verysimilar to their assessment of unfiltered lighting. The overallpreference of filtered vs. unfiltered light varied between individualsand did not show a consistent trend in the 12 studied subjects whoparticipated in this comparison.

The assessment of the filtered lighting produced by the 440 nm pump LEDlight with the 440 nm pump LED light with sub 500 nm cut off filter was,as expected, quite different and overall judged less favorably (e.g.,compromised color perception) than the unfiltered lighting or lightingwith a narrow notch filter. This is not surprising because the range ofblocked wavelengths was very large with the cut-off filter. Thislighting may not be a viable choice for some workplace lightingenvironments, and its testing was primarily conducted to establish areference for melatonin preservation under light conditions withextensive filtering.

As illustrated in FIG. 12B, the 440 nm pump LED including a sub 500 nmcut off filter cuts off the bottom of the spectrum of light creating anon-white light that may be undesirable in many work environments. Onthe other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 12D, The 415 nm pump LED with a430-500 nm notch filter does create a suitable white light for a workingenvironment in addition to maintaining desirable levels of melatonin inthe subjects as demonstrated above and as illustrated in FIG. 15. Thefinal light condition with the 415 nm pump LED light with the 430-500 nmnotch filter got better ratings than the lighting with the cut-offfilter. Pleasantness and comfort of the 415 nm pump LED light with the430-500 nm notch filter lighting was rated comparable to the unfilteredlighting and to lighting with narrow-notch filters. Three of the foursubjects tested with the 415 nm pump LED light with the 430-500 nm notchfilter stated that, assuming that this lighting had positive effects onhealth and well-being, they would choose this type of lighting overconventional workplace ceiling lighting.

The testing confirmed spectrum-specific LED lighting solutions arecapable of preventing circadian disruption associated with nocturnalexposure to traditional lighting. In addition, the results showed thatfiltered light sources can be effective regarding preserving normalnocturnal melatonin patterns in humans while awake at night.Specifically, the testing showed that lighting produced by 415 nm pumpLEDs with a 430-500 nm notch filter is particularly suited to lightingfor night shifts as it minimizes exposure to the spectral rangeresponsible for disruption of nocturnal melatonin patterns and providessuitable light for working conditions. It is also contemplated thatnarrower or different ranges of blocked wavelengths, such as thosediscussed herein, may further enhance the spectrum of light producedwhile maintaining the desired melatonin effect and desired conditionsfor particular environments.

FIG. 16 illustrates the irradiance measured at approximately 4 feet fromthe floor for the unfiltered and filtered wavelengths in the bioactiveband for a Soraa MR16 light source according to some systems and methodsof the disclosure. FIG. 17 illustrates percentages of total irradiancein a bioactive band with and without filtering and in the wavelengths ofvisible light not in the bioactive band according to some aspects of thedisclosure that will be discussed in more detail below.

Additional Examples and Embodiments

Exemplary features and aspects of some advantageous systems and methodsare further described herein. For example, systems and methods forproviding advanced lighting system solutions are described. Systems andmethods for providing an effective circadian-modulated spectraldistribution pattern are also disclosed. According to some embodiments,systems are arranged and configured in accordance with certain features,aspects and advantages of the present disclosure. The systems aresimilar in some aspects to other systems described herein. The systemsare unique in some aspects as described further herein. Systems andmethods can include one or more of the following features andcombinations.

According to some advantageous aspects, systems and methods for lightingan area can comprise providing for a specific effectivecircadian-modulated spectral distribution pattern, such as one or moreof the patterns described herein. For example, in some embodiments,systems and methods can comprise a nocturnal spectral distributionpattern with a high violet spike (e.g., about 400-430 nm) and theelimination of, or emission of very low levels of, bioactive blue light(e.g., about 430 nm to 490 nm and/or other alternatives as describedherein), and emission of normal levels of about 490 nm to 700 nm visiblelight wavelengths. For example, in some embodiments, systems and methodscan comprise a daytime spectral distribution pattern that has a full 400nm-700 nm light spectrum with normal or elevated levels of bioactiveblue light (e.g., about 430-490 nm).

As used herein, the terms “nocturnal” and “daytime” and/or “day/night”are broad terms and are used herein in their ordinary senses, and, forexample, generally refer to different specific circadian phases of thecircadian (approximately 24 hour) day, which are determined by circadian(biological) clocks of an individual. They do not necessarily relate tothe intervals between sunset and sunrise, or sunrise and sunset.According to some embodiments, the precise times of the 24 hours of thenocturnal and daytime conditions, and the transition waveform usedbetween conditions (e.g., abrupt on-off or gradual like dawn & dusk)when the day and night specifications of light wavelength spectraldistribution are switched on and off, can be selected and/or controlledby a user or a manufacturer of the system, and/or can be predeterminedor automatically determined by the system.

In some embodiments, a system comprises a luminaire that emits aparticular circadian-modulated light wavelength profile. In someembodiments, the luminaire is a lighting fixture. In some embodiments,the luminaire is a light bulb. The system preferably provides definedcircadian day/night timed wavelength distributions generated by theluminaire.

In some embodiments, a system comprises mechanically moving filters. Forexample, in some embodiments, a system uses a single type of violetLED+phosphor chip array (e.g., Soraa GaN on GaN chip array) whichgenerates a full visual light spectrum. During a nocturnal condition,the system is configured to mechanically position optical wavelengthfilters in relation to the chip array to eliminate or greatly reduceblue light (about 430-490 nm) during the night. After the nocturnalcondition, the system is configured to remove the filters to allow theemission of a broad spectrum light including the bioactive blue lightwavelengths during the day. In some embodiments a violet spike LED ispreferred to obtain a good quality light even when the specific bluewavelengths are filtered out at night. Various types of optical filterscan be used. Filters preferably block or sufficiently reduce aparticular range of wavelengths of blue light transmission by a definedamount. One or more of the filter ranges described herein can be used asdesired. For example, in some embodiments, the filters can be Dichroic(e.g., “reflective” or “thin film” or “interference” filters). In someembodiments, the filters can be absorptive filters. According to someembodiments, the chip array can be a moving part to achieve theday/night timed alternation between unfiltered and filtered light.According to some embodiments, the optical filter can be a moving partto achieve the day/night timed alternation between unfiltered andfiltered light. In some embodiments, both the chip array and the opticalfilter can move to achieve the day/night timed alternation betweenunfiltered and filtered light.

In some embodiments, a system is arranged and configured to switchbetween filtered and unfiltered LED+phosphor chips. For example, in someembodiments, a system uses two sets of a single type of violet LEDphosphor-coated chip or chip array (e.g., Soraa GaN on GaN chip array)that emits a full light spectrum. One set is preferably equipped withfixed optical wavelength filters and the other set is preferablyunfiltered so that the desired day/night pattern is accomplished byswitching off the unfiltered chip array at night, and leaving only lightemission from the filtered light chip array, according to someembodiments. For example, during the day the filtered set of chips orchip arrays would be switched off, while the unfiltered set is switchedon. The LED+phosphor used preferably has a strong peak of emission inthe violet wavelengths (about 400-430 nm) to maintain color quality inthe set equipped with optical wavelength filters.

In some embodiments, a system is arranged and configured with LED chipsthat emit light through two channels. For example, one channel ispreferably coated with phosphor or a set of phosphors that eliminates orminimizes blue light (e.g., about 430-490 nm) but emits light acrossother wavelengths (e.g., about 400-430 and about 490-700 nm) and theother channel preferably has little or no phosphor coating and emitsblue wavelengths (e.g., about 430-490 nm). According to someembodiments, the system can be configured to use conventional blue-spikeLED chips. For example, during the day both channels can be switched on.During the night, preferably only the channel with the phosphor(s) wouldbe switched on.

In some embodiments, a system is arranged and configured with multiplephosphors. For example, in some embodiments, a system preferably usestwo sets of a single type of violet LED chip with emission in thenon-bioactive (e.g., about 400-430 nm) range. One LED chip set ispreferably coated with phosphors which absorb violet light and emit afull visible light spectrum. Another LED chip set is preferably coatedwith a different phosphor or combinations of phosphors which do not emitlight (or greatly reduce light) in a defined blue light range (e.g.,about 430-490 nm, about 425-480 nm, etc.) but emit light in about the490-750 nm range. According to some embodiments, the day/night patternlighting can be achieved by switching between one set of phosphor coatedLEDs to the other set. In some embodiments, alternative coatingmaterials can be used on the violet LED chips which are not conventionalrare earth phosphors but have the same or similar absorption andemission characteristics. For example, colloidal quantum dots, or alkylnanocrystals can replace conventional phosphors (e.g., those placeddirectly on the chip). Colloidal quantum dot phosphors are nanocrystalemitters and contain no rare-earth elements.

In some embodiments, a system is arranged and configured with RGB typelighting solutions. For example, in some embodiments, systems can usemultiple discrete wavelength emitting (monochromatic ornear-monochromatic) LED chips which together constitute a full visuallight spectrum, (e.g., Violet, Blue, Green, Yellow and Red) and thenswitch off the blue LED chip during the night, and switching it back onduring the day. In some embodiments, these multiple LED based systemsmight have as few as three discrete LEDs or as many is practical. Forexample, a system can comprise up to 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,14, 15, 16, or more color systems in some embodiments. Systems cancomprise multiple discrete color channels. In some preferred systems,the LEDs that emit in the blue zone (e.g., about 430-490 nm) can beswitched off in the nocturnal state of the lighting system. In someembodiments, Fabry-Pérot interferometers can be used to reduce emissionsat the outer edges of the range of emitted light spectrum of the singlecolor LED near the bioactive blue zone (e.g., about 430-490) to createwavelength zones where little or no light is emitted in the target bluewavelengths (e.g., about 430-490 nm) between the single color LED chips.

According to some systems and methods for day/night control of lightspectrum, OLED (organic light-emitting diode) based-systems can be usedas a source of light emission in the desired wavelengths as opposed toLEDs, with one set of OLEDs providing full-spectrum light and anotherset of OLEDs emitting light which excludes the bio-active bluewavelengths. For example, OLED systems could replace LEDs in some of theembodiments disclosed herein. In some embodiments, a combination ofOLEDs and LEDs can be used.

According to some systems and methods for day/night control of lightspectrum, bright (e.g., “sunlight readable”) plasma or liquid crystalcomputer monitor display screen based-systems can be used as a source oflight emission in the desired wavelengths with the computer screenprogrammed to provide full-spectrum light during the day and light whichexcludes the bio-active blue wavelengths during the night. Othermonitors, screens, and/or displays can also be adapted and/or configuredas a source of light emission in the desired wavelengths with themonitors, screens, and/or displays programmed to provide full-spectrumlight during the day and light which excludes the bio-active bluewavelengths during the night. According to some embodiments, deviceswith advantageous monitors, screens, and/or displays as described hereininclude personal computing devices, laptops, tablets, phones, kiosks,televisions, and can include generally stationary devices and portabledevices.

In some embodiments, a system comprises wearable filters. For example,in some embodiments, a system uses a single type of violet LED+phosphorchip array (e.g., Soraa GaN on GaN chip array) which generates a fullvisual light spectrum. During a nocturnal condition, users of the systemare provided with wearable filter systems, such as, for example,glasses, goggles, shields and/or other wearable filter configurationsthat can be used personally to shield a user by positioning opticalwavelength filters on a user in an environment of the chip array toeliminate or greatly reduce blue light (about 430-490 nm) during thenight. After the nocturnal condition, the user can remove the filters toallow the emission of a broad spectrum light including the bioactiveblue light wavelengths during the day. In some embodiments a violetspike LED is preferred to obtain a good quality light even when thespecific blue wavelengths are filtered out at night. Various types ofwearable and/or personal optical filters can be used. Filters preferablyblock or sufficiently reduce a particular range of wavelengths of bluelight transmission by a defined amount. One or more of the filtercharacteristics and/or ranges described herein can be used as desired.

In some embodiments, a system is arranged and configured for outdoorlighting applications using filtered night light sources. For example,in some embodiments, a system uses a light source and a filter. Thesystem can have a violet LED phosphor-coated chip or chip array (e.g.,Soraa GaN on GaN chip array) that emits a full light spectrum. Otherlight sources and arrangements as described herein can also be used. Thelight source is preferably equipped with fixed optical wavelengthfilter, according to some embodiments. In other embodiments, the desiredspectrum of transmitted light can be achieved in any of the waysdescribed herein. For example, during the day the filtered set of chipsor chip arrays would typically be switched off. The light source usedpreferably has a strong peak of emission in the violet wavelengths(about 400-430 nm) to maintain color quality in the set equipped withoptical wavelength filters to limit night emissions in the bluewavelengths (e.g., about 430-490 nm). According to some embodiments,outdoor lighting devices with advantageous filtered light sources asdescribed herein include street lights, stadium lights, court lights,vehicle headlights, yard lights, patio lighting, park lighting,amusement park lighting, parking lot and/or structure lighting, floodlights, construction lighting, accent lighting including for lightingarchitectural structures at night, and other lighting systems suitablefor predominantly nighttime lighting uses.

According to some systems and methods for day/night control of lightspectrum, other types of wavelength management devices can be used. Forexample, in some embodiments, an absorber system can be used. Anabsorber system can be different from an interference filter in that theabsorption may not depend on light incidence angle in some embodiments.The absorber can be a phosphor (similar to those discussed herein) orsimply an absorber that produces heat alone. In some embodiments, awavelength management device can comprise an electrochromic materialand/or structure to absorb or transmit light in a forbidden zone. Insome embodiments, a wavelength management device can comprise a photoniccrystal filter element. The photonic crystal preferably is designed withan optical bandgap to limit and/or prevent propagation of light in aforbidden zone. In some embodiments the photonic crystal is a 2Dphotonic crystal element. In some embodiments the photonic crystal is a3D photonic crystal element. In some embodiments, a wavelengthmanagement device can comprise plasmonic structures designed to absorblight in a forbidden zone. In some embodiments, a wavelength managementdevice can comprise any suitable and/or efficacious combination ofwavelength management devices and/or interference filters.

According to some systems and methods, designs can comprise the use ofwavelength management devices in and/or on an LED semiconductor element,in an LED package, module, primary optic, secondary and/or tertiaryoptics, used to make the fixture. According to some systems and methods,designs can comprise the use of wavelength management systems (e.g.,absorbers, plasmonics) directly on nominally reflective surfaces in thefixture contacted by radiation from the LEDs and/or LED phosphorcombination (for example, where OLED is included as a specific type ofLED). According to some systems and methods, designs can comprise theuse of wavelength management devices on and/or in waveguide structures(e.g., planar, curved, fiber based) that may be used in the design andoperation of a lighting system and/or luminaire.

According to some systems and methods, features for dynamic spectralmanagement can comprise digital and/or analog control of light emissionfrom various groups of LEDs, with or without phosphor, as is needed todynamically control the spectral density of the light source. Accordingto some systems and methods, features for dynamic spectral managementcan comprise digital and/or analog control of an electrochromic absorberthat may be used to manage the transmission or absorption of light in aforbidden zone. According to some systems and methods, features fordynamic spectral management can comprise a mechanical structure where acombination of absorbers and/or filters can be used to dynamically blockand/or transmit light in a forbidden zone. For example, the structure(s)can be in any or all parts (e.g., in various physical configurations) ofthe primary, secondary and/or tertiary optical system.

According to some systems and methods, one aspect of the presentdisclosure is the realization that when designing a lighting system todeliver a certain intensity and spectral wavelength composition to theoccupants of an artificially illuminated environment such as aworkplace, residence or public space it is advantageous to considerand/or define not only the lighting systems and/or luminaires but alsothe characteristics of that environment.

The quality and intensity of light that reaches a person's eye dependsnot only on the spectral composition of the light, but can also dependon the material properties of the environmental surfaces, including thecolor, reflectance and texture. In some applications, quantitativemeasures of light source emissions may not fully account for thereflective properties of the surfaces in the environment, including theeffects of fluorescent dyes and materials.

There are a number of conditions which may be considered when designingand installing light sources to optimize human vision, perception,performance and health. When light strikes a surface, it is reflected,absorbed or transmitted—or a combination of two or three effects mayoccur. Dark colors, like flat black paint reflect little light andabsorb nearly all of the incident light rays, while bright surfaces suchas white paint reflects most incident light. When light strikes anopaque surface that will not transmit light, some of the light isabsorbed and some reflected. Similarly, smooth surfaces reflect lightback but if the surface is not a perfect transmitter, such as a mirror,part of the light will be absorbed and is converted into heat. Inaddition, different surfaces reflect light in different ways. Forexample carpet exhibits matt or diffuse reflection where the reflectedlight is scattered equally in all directions thereby appearing equallybright from any direction.

Accordingly, in some applications, it is therefore advantageous tomeasure and assess the reflectances of the main surfaces of anenvironment because their properties may reflect light and eitherincrease or decrease the illuminance within a space.

According to some systems and methods, an artificially illuminatedenvironment system is adapted for one or more people to be situatedtherein. A defined environment space is provided. An artificial lightsource is adapted to deliver light within the defined environment space.The artificial light source is configured such that after taking intoaccount any natural light sources present that deliver light within thedefined environment space of the artificially illuminated environment,and after taking into account features of any environmental componentspresent within the defined environment space of the artificiallyilluminated environment, such as optics, spectral reflectivity ofsurfaces, and/or properties of materials in the defined environmentspace that fluoresce, the artificial light source in combination withany contributing natural light sources and/or environmental componentsdelivers between about fifty (50) and about two thousand (2,000) lux oflight in the visible light range (about 400 nm to about 700 nm) atbetween about two (2) and about seven (7) feet above a floor level ofthe defined environment space. A Circadian Night Mode (CNight Mode) inwhich light is delivered in a selected bioactive wavelength band rangepreferably does not exceed an average irradiance of about 1 μWatts/cm2when measured in any direction, wherein the selected bioactivewavelength band range spans at least about 10 nm, and wherein theselected bioactive wavelength band range falls within a generalwavelength band range of between about 430 nm and about 500 nm.

The selected bioactive wavelength band range in the CNight Mode can beselected from a group consisting of bioactive wavelength band ranges of:about 430 nm to about 500 nm, about 430 nm to about 490 nm, about 430 nmto about 480 nm, about 430 nm to about 470 nm, about 430 nm to about 460nm, about 435 nm to about 500 nm, about 435 nm to about 490 nm, about435 nm to about 480 nm, about 435 nm to about 470 nm, about 435 nm toabout 460 nm, about 440 nm to about 500 nm, about 440 nm to about 490nm, about 440 nm to about 480 nm, about 440 nm to about 470 nm, about440 nm to about 460 nm, about 450 nm to about 500 nm, about 450 nm toabout 490 nm, about 450 nm to about 480 nm, about 450 nm to about 470nm, about 450 nm to about 460 nm, about 460 nm to about 500 nm, about460 nm to about 490 nm, about 460 nm to about 480 nm, and about 460 nmto about 470 nm.

The selected bioactive wavelength band range in the CNight Modepreferably does not exceed an average irradiance selected from a groupconsisting of: about 0.7 μWatts/cm2, about 0.5 μWatts/cm2, about 0.2μWatts/cm2, and about 0.1 μWatts/cm2, between approximately two(2)-seven (7) feet from the floor, when measured in any direction.

The CNight Mode violet light can be provided in a wavelength bandselected from a group consisting of: between about 400 and about 440 nm,between about 400 and about 430 nm, between about 400 and about 425 nm,and between about 400 and about 415 nm, and that has an averageirradiance selected from a group consisting of: greater than about 0.5μWatts/cm2, greater than about 1.0 μWatts/cm2, greater than about 1.5μWatts/cm2, and greater than about 2.0 μWatts/cm2, between approximatelytwo (2)-seven (7) feet from the floor, when measured in any direction.

The CNight Mode can alternate with a Circadian Day Mode (CDay Mode) thatdelivers light between about two (2) and about seven (7) feet above thefloor level of the defined environment space, and between about fifty(50) and about two thousand (2,000) lux of light with an irradiance inthe selected bioactive wavelength band range that is at similar levelsto the irradiance of other visible light wavelengths, betweenapproximately two (2)-seven (7) feet from the floor, when measured inany direction.

The system can be configured to transition automatically between theCDay Mode and the CNight Mode in response to predeterminedcircadian-phase or time of day instructions, and wherein the durationand timing of CDay and the duration and timing of CNight can be presetby the user. The predetermined circadian-phase or time of dayinstructions can be selected from a group consisting of: instructionsincluding seasonal adjusted times, instructions including fixed clocktimes, and instructions including times chosen by a user. Theenvironment can be configured based on circadian-phase data, orinformation, obtained from individuals being illuminated by theartificially illuminated environment system. In some embodiments, thesystem is configured to transition abruptly between the CDay Mode andthe CNight Mode. In some embodiments, the system is configured totransition gradually between the CDay Mode and the CNight Mode.

According to some systems and methods, a lighting system comprises anartificial light source. The artificial light source delivers light inthe visible light range (about 400 nm to about 700 nm), and includes aCircadian Night Mode (CNight Mode) in which light delivered in aselected bioactive wavelength band range delivers less than six percent(6%) of the total irradiance from the artificial light source in thevisible light range. The selected bioactive wavelength band range candeliver an irradiance selected from a group consisting of: less than sixpercent (6%), less than four percent (4%), less than two percent (2%),and less than one percent (1%), of the total irradiance from theartificial light source in the visible light range. The CNight Modeviolet light is provided in a wavelength band selected from a groupconsisting of: between about 400 and about 435 nm, between about 400 andabout 430 nm, between about 400 and about 425 nm, and between about 400and about 415 nm, and that has an average irradiance selected from agroup consisting of: greater than about four percent (4%), greater thanabout six percent (6%), and greater than about ten percent (10%), of thetotal irradiance from the light source in the visible light range. TheCNight Mode preferably alternates with a Circadian Day Mode (CDay Mode)wherein the selected bioactive wavelength band range delivers anirradiance selected from a group consisting of: greater than about fourpercent (4%), greater than about six percent (6%), and greater thanabout ten percent (10%), of the total irradiance from the light sourcein the visible light range. The system can be configured to transitionautomatically between the CDay Mode and the CNight Mode in response topredetermined circadian-phase or time of day instructions. The durationand timing of CDay and the duration and timing of CNight can be presetby the user. The predetermined circadian-phase or time of dayinstructions may be selected from a group consisting of: instructionsincluding seasonal adjusted times, instructions including fixed clocktimes, and instructions including times chosen by a user.

In some cases, the artificial light source only delivers light in theCNight Mode. For example, a second light source can deliver light in aCircadian Day Mode (CDay Mode). The second light source can comprise aconventional light source. The second light source may comprise apre-existing light fixture and/or be installed in parallel with theartificial light source. The artificial light source can be selectedfrom a group consisting of: a ceiling luminaire, a wall luminaire, adesk/table lamp, portable lamps, vehicle lamps, outdoor lamps,screens/monitors of electronic devices. The artificial light source maycomprise an LED or a non-LED-based source.

According to some systems and methods, a lighting system comprises alight source. The light source preferably is configured to emit lighthaving a spectral distribution pattern with a violet spike between about400 nm and about 440 nm. A notch filter can be adapted to be coupled tothe light source. The notch filter can be configured to filter lightemitted by the light source such that a bioactive wavelength banddelivers less than about six percent (6%) of the total irradiance fromthe light source in the visible light range in a first filteredconfiguration corresponding to a CNight spectral distribution pattern. Asecond non-filtered configuration corresponds to a CDay spectraldistribution pattern. The bioactive wavelength band can deliver morethan about four percent (4%) of the total irradiance from the lightsource in the visible light range in some embodiments.

The bioactive wavelength band in the CNight spectral distributionpattern can be selected from a group consisting of bioactive wavelengthband ranges of: about 430 nm to about 500 nm, about 430 nm to about 490nm, about 430 nm to about 480 nm, about 430 nm to about 470 nm, about430 nm to about 460 nm, about 435 nm to about 500 nm, about 435 nm toabout 490 nm, about 435 nm to about 480 nm, about 435 nm to about 470nm, about 435 nm to about 460 nm, about 440 nm to about 500 nm, about440 nm to about 490 nm, about 440 nm to about 480 nm, about 440 nm toabout 470 nm, about 440 nm to about 460 nm, about 450 nm to about 500nm, about 450 nm to about 490 nm, about 450 nm to about 480 nm, about450 nm to about 470 nm, about 450 nm to about 460 nm, about 460 nm toabout 500 nm, about 460 nm to about 490 nm, about 460 nm to about 480nm, and about 460 nm to about 470 nm.

The violet spike can be provided in a wavelength band selected from agroup consisting of: between about 400 and about 425 nm, between about400 and about 415 nm, an between about 410 and about 420 nm, and thathas an average irradiance selected from a group consisting of: greaterthan about four percent (4%), greater than about six percent (6%), andgreater than about ten percent (10%), of the total irradiance from thelight source in the visible light range. The bioactive wavelength bandin the CNight spectral distribution pattern delivers an irradianceselected from a group consisting of: less than four percent (4%), lessthan two percent (2%), and less than one percent (1%), of the totalirradiance from the light source in the visible light range. Thebioactive wavelength band in the CDay spectral distribution patterndelivers an irradiance selected from a group consisting of: greater thansix percent (6%), and greater than 10 percent (10%), of the totalirradiance from the light source in the visible light range.

The notch filter is movable relative to the light source which isgenerally fixed in some embodiments. The light source is movablerelative to the notch filter which is generally fixed in someembodiments. The light source and notch filter are independently movablein some embodiments. The light source can comprise a violet pumpLED+phosphor chip array. The light source can comprise a GaN on GaNLED+Phosphor chip array. The light source can comprise an OLED. Thenotch filter can be a dichroic filter. The notch filter is an absorptivefilter in some embodiments.

According to some systems and methods, a light source comprises aplurality of discrete wavelength emitting LED chips. The plurality ofLED chips together constitute a full visual light spectrum, in a CDaymode. One or more of the discrete wavelength emitting LED chips isconfigured to be selectively switched off in a CNight mode such that abioactive wavelength band delivers less than one percent (1%) of thetotal irradiance from the light source in the visible light range. Insome embodiments, a bioactive wavelength band can deliver an irradianceselected from a group consisting of: less than six percent (6%), lessthan four percent (4%), less than two percent (2%), and less than onepercent (1%), of the total irradiance from the light source in thevisible light range. One or more of the LED chips can be monochromatic.In some embodiments, one or more of the LED chips arenear-monochromatic. The full visual light spectrum preferably comprisesdiscrete wavelength chips for Violet, Blue, Green, Yellow and Redwavelengths in some embodiments. A Blue LED chip is preferablyconfigured to be selectively switched off in the CNight mode.

According to some systems and methods, a light source comprises firstand second separately-controlled sets of violet LED chips. The first setof violet LED chips is configured to be switched on in a CDay mode andis coated with phosphors which absorb violet light and emit a visiblelight spectrum across the 400-700 nm range. The second set of LED chipsis configured to be switched on in a CNight mode and is coated with adifferent phosphor or combinations of phosphors which limit light in abioactive wavelength band so that the bioactive wavelength band deliversless than one percent (1%) of the total irradiance from the light sourcein the visible light range. In some embodiments, a bioactive wavelengthband can deliver an irradiance selected from a group consisting of: lessthan six percent (6%), less than four percent (4%), less than twopercent (2%), and less than one percent (1%), of the total irradiancefrom the light source in the visible light range. The day-night patternlighting can be achieved by switching between the first and second setsof phosphor-coated LEDs. In some embodiments, the coating materials usedon the violet LED chips are not conventional rare earth phosphors buthave similar absorption and emission characteristics. The coatingmaterials used on the violet LED chips can include colloidal quantumdots and/or alkyl nanocrystals.

According to some systems and methods, a lighting system comprises alight source comprising a plurality of LED chips that emit light throughfirst and second channels. The first channel is coated with a phosphoror set of phosphors that during the CNight mode limits lighttransmission in a bioactive wavelength band so that the bioactivewavelength band delivers less than one percent (1%) of the totalirradiance from the light source in the visible light range. In someembodiments, a bioactive wavelength band can deliver an irradianceselected from a group consisting of: less than six percent (6%), lessthan four percent (4%), less than two percent (2%), and less than onepercent (1%), of the total irradiance from the light source in thevisible light range. The second channel is configured to be switched onduring the CDay mode and has no phosphor coating. The bioactivewavelength band in the CDay mode delivers more than 4% of the totalirradiance from the light source in the visible light range in someembodiments. The bioactive wavelength band in the CDay mode can deliveran irradiance selected from a group consisting of: greater than sixpercent (6%), and greater than 10 percent (10%), of the total irradiancefrom the light source in the visible light range.

It should be noted that various changes and modifications to thepresently preferred embodiments described herein will be apparent tothose skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure andwithout diminishing its attendant advantages. For instance, variouscomponents may be repositioned as desired. It is therefore intended thatsuch changes and modifications be included within the scope of thedisclosure. Moreover, not all of the features, aspects and advantagesare necessarily required to practice the present disclosure.Accordingly, the scope of the present disclosure is intended to bedefined only by the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: providing artificialillumination to an environment; and varying a spectral intensity profileof the artificial illumination according to a circadian cycle, whereinthe varying comprises: providing, during a first period of the circadiancycle, white light having a first spectral intensity profile in awavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm, the wavelength range comprisinga first component wavelength range from 400 nm to 430 nm, a secondcomponent wavelength range from 430 nm to 500 nm, and a third componentwavelength range from 500 nm to 700 nm; and providing, during a secondperiod of the circadian cycle, light having a second spectral intensityprofile in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm different from thefirst spectral intensity profile, wherein, relative to the firstspectral intensity profile, the second spectral intensity profilecomprises sufficiently less irradiance in the second componentwavelength range to reduce circadian neuroendocrine disruption asmeasured by a reduction in suppression of nocturnal melatonin levelsassociated with nocturnal exposure to white light having the firstspectral intensity profile and/or a reduction in a circadian phaseshifting of nocturnal melatonin levels associated with nocturnalexposure to white light having the first spectral intensity profile,wherein greater than four percent (4%) of the total irradiance in thesecond spectral intensity profile is in the first component wavelengthband, wherein less than six percent (6%) of the total irradiance in thesecond spectral intensity profile is in the second component wavelengthband, and wherein more than half of the total irradiance in the secondspectral intensity profile is in the third component wavelength band. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein less than four percent (4%) of the totalirradiance in the second spectral intensity profile is in the secondcomponent wavelength band and more than half of the total irradiance inthe second spectral intensity profile is in the third componentwavelength band.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein less than two percent(2%) of the total irradiance in the second spectral intensity profile isin the second component wavelength band and more than half of the totalirradiance in the second spectral intensity profile is in the thirdcomponent wavelength band.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein greaterthan six percent (6%) of the total irradiance in the second spectralintensity profile is in the first component wavelength band and morethan half of the total irradiance in the second spectral intensityprofile is in the third component wavelength band.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein greater than ten percent (10%) of the total irradiancein the second spectral intensity profile is in the first componentwavelength band and more than half of the total irradiance in the secondspectral intensity profile is in the third component wavelength band. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein varying a spectral intensity profile ofthe artificial illumination comprises spectrally filtering at least someof the light emitted from an artificial light source.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein varying a spectral intensity profile of the artificialillumination comprises varying a relative intensity of light emittedfrom two or more artificial light sources, each of the two or moreartificial light sources having different spectral emission profiles. 8.The method of claim 1, wherein the first period of the circadian cycleoccurs during the day time and the second period of the circadian cycleoccurs during the night time.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein thelight having the second spectral intensity profile is white light. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein the light having the second spectralintensity profile is substantially similar to the white light having thefirst spectral intensity profile as determined by subjective assessmentsusing Visual Analog Scales assessing one or more parameters selectedfrom the group consisting of: general illumination, brightness and lightdistribution in the room, light color, glare, a subject's ability toclearly see details, the subject's ability to clearly perceive contrastsand colors, the pleasantness of the light to the subject, the physicalappearance of the lighting fixture to the subject and how comfortablethe lighting was on the subject's eyes.
 11. A system for providingartificial illumination to an environment, the system comprising: alighting module comprising one or more artificial light sources, thelighting module being arranged to illuminate the environment with theartificial illumination; and a control system programmed to vary aspectral intensity profile of the artificial illumination according to acircadian cycle, wherein the varying comprises: providing to theenvironment, during a first period of the circadian cycle, white lighthaving a first spectral intensity profile in a wavelength range from 400nm to 700 nm, the wavelength range comprising a first componentwavelength range from 400 nm to 430 nm, a second component wavelengthrange from 430 nm to 500 nm, and a third component wavelength range from500 nm to 700 nm; and providing to the environment, during a secondperiod of the circadian cycle, light having a second spectral intensityprofile in the wavelength range from 400 nm to 700 nm different from thefirst spectral intensity profile, wherein, relative to the firstspectral intensity profile, the second spectral intensity profilecomprises sufficiently less irradiance in the second componentwavelength range to reduce circadian neuroendocrine disruption asmeasured by a reduction in suppression of nocturnal melatonin levelsassociated with nocturnal exposure to white light having the firstspectral intensity profile and/or a reduction in a circadian phaseshifting of nocturnal melatonin levels associated with nocturnalexposure to white light having the first spectral intensity profile,wherein greater than four percent (4%) of the total irradiance in thesecond spectral intensity profile is in the first component wavelengthband, wherein less than six percent (6%) of the total irradiance in thesecond spectral intensity profile is in the second component wavelengthband, and wherein more than half of the total irradiance in the secondspectral intensity profile is in the third component wavelength band.12. The system of claim 11, wherein the one or more artificial lightsources comprises at least a first light emitting diode (LED) configuredto emit light having an intensity peak in the first component wavelengthband.
 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the one or more artificiallight sources further comprises at least a second LED configured to emitlight having an intensity peak in the second component wavelength bandand the controller is programmed to vary a relative intensity of thefirst and second LEDs according to the circadian cycle.
 14. The systemof claim 11, further comprising an optical filter positioned in a pathof the light from the one or more light sources to the environment, theoptical filter attenuating at least some of the light in the secondcomponent wavelength band.
 15. The system of claim 14, furthercomprising an actuator arranged to position the optical filter in thelight path according to the circadian cycle.
 16. The system of claim 11,wherein the one or more light sources comprise one or more lightemitting diodes (LEDs).
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one ormore LEDs comprise a violet pump light-emitting diode (LED) coated withone or more phosphors.
 18. The system of claim 16, wherein the LEDscomprise a violet LED, a green LED, and a red LED, which, incombination, are configured to emit substantially white light duringoperation of the system.
 19. The system of claim 16, wherein the one ormore LEDs comprise one or more LEDs selected from a group consisting of:a gallium nitride and indium LED, a gallium nitride on sapphire LED, anda gallium nitride on silicon carbide LED.
 20. The system of claim 11,wherein the one or more light sources comprise a gallium nitride ongallium nitride LED.